Weekend Updateage. (many pics)

So..... as it turns out... God came through and answered our prayers, yet again! Jeff was able to go camping. The poor guy actually got off of work at 6:30am Friday morning, went to his house to pack, came to my house to help us pack the truck, and then napped for a few hours on the way to the campground. :) As soon as we got there I set up my hammock between two trees and let him enjoy some peaceful slumber for a few more hours. My "mock" as I call it- was pretty popular. We came back from the lake on Saturday to even find my dad snoozing in it!


It was a pretty jam-packed weekend. Camping vacations are never long enough! I got to grill a good bit- YUM! I love me some grilling!


We hit up the lake/sand- and made a pretty sweet dragon/gator. haha... looks like a gator with wings. Oh well. It's still pretty sweet.


Also got some sweet tan/burn lines. :)


Had a pretty decent fire Saturday night- kept that puppy blazin!!
Most importantly, spent some good quality time together in God's creation!!!



OH oh oh - aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand- I found time to set up some pics for the table numbers for our reception!!!
(I'm just going to post all of them I have arranged so far. Some have been posted before- but they're pretty cool all together.)

Still need an 8, 9, 11, 13, and 14. :)

Bridal Shower question

So, how are you supposed to look cute for your bridal shower (hair, clothes, shoes, make-up) if it's a surprise?!? I mean, some days I like to wear skirts and dresses... other days it's gym shorts and a beater. That's quite a difference... and I don't want to look like a bum on my shower day. What do I do???

A case of the Blahhhhhhhhhs.

So... I am currently suffering from PID (I just made this up- Post Invitation Disorientation). I kind of like it. (Not the feeling, just the acronym.) Here's the problem... I went from spending every free minute and even non-free minutes planning and doing invitations. And now I find myself feeling quite depressed, because I don't know what to do next.

Here's a link to one of my first posts:
http://mrandmrsvarner.blogspot.com/2011/01/d-i-y-gone-wild.html

I have a quite ambitious list of DIY projects to work on, and I've added to the list since then too.

I just don't know what to do next.

I feel a bit lost.

Also, I leave tomorrow for a weekend camping trip with my family. Due to unforseen events (required overtime and other things), my Jeff is about 90% sure he can't go now. (SAD FACE)

(you get the point)

I'll be fine without him, but it's also just nice to have time with him in our favorite setting- nature... boohoo. The point of this post isn't to mope- it's actually to help me figure out my next step. I'd like to take supplies along tomorrow to work on/ accomplish something weddingy this weekend. But, what?

Options:
-collect sticks for centerpieces
-take naturey photos for table numbers
-make some wedding pointer signs (requires me to bring supplies)
-create a complete list of all DIY projects, required steps, and supplies needed (will make me feel like a more organized bride)
-blow off wedding planning and enjoy a relaxing weekend...


When I get home then I can kick it into high gear and:
-finish crossword puzzle
-get material for liners of baskets for Trail Mix Bar
-make petal cones out of Kraft paper
-make all my Bridesmaid gifts!!!!
-make wedding pointer signs
-create a wedding update newsletter for my ladies :)
-scope out deals on S'more ingredients for our favors (now's the time of year for bargains!)
-make my three wooden cake stands
-make some twine balls
-set up a hair trial with my aunt
-set up a make-up trial with my Mary Kay consultant friend!!!
-send out an S.O.S. email/ facebook alert for another large canopy and white Christmas lights!!
-plan more DIY projects :)


Okay, I feel better now.

please excuse my lame humor :)

My babies (our invitations).

That title is no exaggeration... haha. I created these puppies with my own two hands. Nurtured them. Primped them. And then I sent them off and gave them wings. If you didn't design/create your own invitations you might think I'm nuts... but seriously, after investing 60-80 hours on them... I feel like a proud parent. :)

In the beginning.... :)

orange, cream, white, and eggplant (wedding colors)

I made a nice little stack of my necessary supplies. Organization is key.

Here's my printer- it should receive a gold star and some kind of an award after all the printing it did.

the enclosures:

I enlisted mom's help to glue orange and white pieces together-


I used purple scraps from the invitations to make the little foldy flaps to go inside the pocketfold.
see :)

my invitation structure after folding 80 of them!

kitchen table workstation-

map enclosure!!!!!!!!
reception/ odds~n~ends enclosure!!!!!
RSVP postcard!!!!!!

RSVP Postcard!!!!!!!!

front and back together :)

separated into stacks depending on how many people were in the invited party-

beautiful :)

60 wooden hearts burned around each edge and a J + H in the middle (aww)

our guest list-

all assembled with burlap fabric, hemp, and wooden heart!
the invitations that were being mailed couldn't have the wooden heart on them (too thick), so I made some makeshift paper ones out of kraft paper!

the mailables:

ready to be enveloped!

to save my tongue, I used a sponge on the envelopes :)

FINISHED PRODUCT: don't stalk me :)

So, there you have it! My pride and joys!!! Many hours spent, but so worth it! I love them, and they represent our wedding perfectly!

...Aaaaaaaand, we got our first RSVP postcard back in the mail today!! Yay- and its a YES! :)

I had to call the post office yesterday and tell them that I would be expecting things in the mail for (soon to be) Mr. and Mrs. Varner since there aren't any Varners that live here- I wanted to make sure they got delivered!!

Success.

Guest Book happenings.

I don't think I've ever felt this compelled to blog before in my life!! I love wedding planning!!

So, here's the latest:
*Left a message with my cake lady.
*Appointment for next Thursday to get my dress alterations in order (on my birthday!!!!!)
*Earrings came in the mail today!!! And I put them on with my necklace and its GORGEOUS!!!
*And last but not least (and the reason for this post)- the key component for our guestbook came today!!!!

Without further ado- I present to you......

the pogo printer

You hook up your camera to it and it prints out little 2" x 3" photos with STICKY BACKS in about a minute! That's right- sticky backs. Perfect for putting right into your guestbook and signing, BABY! (I'm more than a little excited.)

I realize that photobooths are pretty popular nowadays with funny props and cool like chalkboard signs. I'm down with that... but Jeff and I have a tradition that I'd like to share with everyone for our own enjoyment. A few years ago we started taking funny face pictures. Over time, we have quite a collection of unflattering... kind of scary facial contortions (Jeff has become a pro). So, the plan is to have some of our favorite funny faces displayed for all to see as inspiration for our guests. They can go solo or as a group and print out their best funny face and then slap it in the guestbook and sign away!!!! :)

Some favorites:


So, that's that. :) Also- here's what I have in mind for our actual guestbook...

I have a very talented Bridesmaid that already offered to make something very similar with a personal wood burnt image on the front :)


Also- last note: I learned two new things yesterday! I learned to French Braid my hair!!! And I learned a new nail painting procedure from youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/prettypolishes#p/u/19/BsZLXOwkhhE

Yardsale Beauts (pronounced: byoots)

I wanted to show off some awesome finds :)

1- Galvanized bucket to put ice and water bottles in at reception... $0.25


2- Mason jars and vases... assorted sizes/prices (most expensive $.50)



(oh, and the little grapevine circle things were 5 cents a piece... so I'm sure I can find a use for them at that price!)


3- A gorgeous rustic, paint-chippin, country-style window. $3.00


This gem is going to be used for my seating chart... just gotta dust off the windows and get me a sharpie to write the names/table number on! And it will have this beautiful garland featured below (not a yardsale find) wrapping around the edges somehow :)


Also- I went to the post office and mailed out the 14 invitations that I couldn't hand deliver, made a call to a local seamstress about my alterations, and am about to go call my aunt about our wedding cake.

Also- I laid out in my backyard for about 45 minutes with a spray bottle of icey water to cool me down... working on my taaaaaaaaaaaan :)

I like today.